The paper presents results of the investigations pertaining to creation of scientifically substantiated criteria for selection of alloying components and base compositions for manufacturing of mechanically alloyed dispersion-strengthened metallic materials. An analysis of dispersion strengthening mechanisms and regularities in mechanically activated phase and structural transformations serve as a reliable basis for solution of the assigned mission. Foer efficient strengthening at low and high temperatures as well materials must have fragmented and polygonized structure with maximum developed surface of grain and sub-grain boundaries which are stabilized by nano-sized inclusions of strengthening phases. Experimental investigations have shown that an optimum complex of mechanical properties is obtained in the case when nano-sized strengthening phase is equal to 3–5 % (volume). The phases applied for dispersion strengthening must have high value of shear modulus that determines their hardness and strength. Critical compressive stress should not cause deformation and destruction of disperse particles. Furthermore, they must have high stability in contact with a matrix. The substances applied as alloying components for realization of the developed technology on obtaining dispersion-strengthening materials must firstly meet the following requirements: they must be cheap, accessible and ecologically safety; they must interact with the basis or inter se at temperatures which are lower of material melting temperature; one of the phases which is formed in the process of the technology realization must have rather high thermodynamic stability and high value of the shear modulus; other formed phases must improve or, at the least, not reduce physical and mechanical properties of the materials. 

Introduction of new efficient braking systems for energy-packed tractors is of great importance for agricultural production. Foreign tractor manufacturing companies are implementing brake systems and in addition to their main function they fulfil function for holding of the given driving direction. The paper considers achievements in the field of electronic systems for tractor road-holding ability. A diagram on proportion of high-power tractors in total export volume of tractors and machinery manufactured in Belarus in the period of 2007–2010 has been drawn in the paper. The paper also proposes a comparative diagram on tractor speeds of international manufacturers which can serve as indicators of speed and road-holding ability of tractors with special electronic systems and without them. The paper contains an analysis of various braking mechanisms of planetary gears and detailed description of their design. A scheme of a laboratory facility for investigation of planetary gear usage as a breaking mechanism while changing conditions of jamming has been presented in the paper. The paper provides description on graph dependencies of current strength and voltage on as a function of the braking torque which is applied to a planetary gear. Nowadays energy-packed “Belarus”-tractors of Class 5 do not have a separate braking for each of four wheels. Therefore, it is proposed to use planetary gearbox of the rear-axle drive being available in every wheel as the basis of a service brake with the purpose to implement the described design. Using such scheme it is possible to execute an introduction of electronic systems for road-holding ability. A generalized scheme of an electronic system for tractor road-holding ability which can ensure separate breaking of all tractor wheels has been drawn out on the basis of the existing automotive electronic systems.

A technology for formation of thermal barrier coatings (TBC) based on zirconium dioxide has been developed in the paper. The paper investigates structures of phase composition and thermal stability of such developed coatings. Investigation results pertaining to formation of an oxide system ZrO₂ – Y₂O₃, while using plasma spraying and subsequent high-energy processing, which allows to increase resistance of a thermal barrier coating to thermal cycling heat resistance of the coating at temperature of 1100 °C. This leads to longer protection of bottom layer against high-temperature exposure. The methodology is based on complex metallographic, X-ray diffraction and electron microscopy investigations of structural elements in composite plasma coatings of the ZrO₂ – Y₂O system. Resistance of plasma coatings (Мe – Cr – Al – Y/ZrO₂ – Y₂O₃-type), used as TBC to protect gas turbine engine blades under conditions of frequent thermal cyclings is limited by cleavage of an outer ceramic layer. Structural and electron microprobe investigations have shown that as a result of thermal cycling an outer atmosphere due to porous structure of the ceramic coating layer, migrates to the surface of lower metal coating, causing its oxidation. As a result, the metal-ceramic Al₂O₃ layer is formed at a metal-ceramic interface and it changes a stress state of the coating that causes a reduction of protective properties. Thus, a high heat resistance of thermal barrier coatings depends on processes occurring at the interface between metal and ceramic coating layers. A laser impact on samples with TBC leads to changes in the structure of the oxide layer of ZrO₂ – Y₂O₃. In this case its initial surface characterized by considerable relief is significantly flattened due to processing and the coating is fractured and it is separated in fragments. As the oxide coating has low thermal conductivity, and the time of laser exposure is about 10–3 sec, a heat flux does not have time to spread to a greater depth. As a result, the coating surface takes the form of solidified melt. The coating obtained from the powder of ZrO₂ – 7 % Y₂O₃ in accordance with the developed technology can withstand heating – cooling cycles by 1.5-fold more than similar coatings being made previously. Thus the proposed method allows to increase the coating resistance to thermal cycling at temperatures of 1100 °C.

The known attempts to create a continuously-adjustable gear train with solid gears have led to development of some so-called adaptive gears. The most structurally simple version of continuously- adjustable gear train is a two-wheel planetary gear. It is an obvious fact that an active regulation of gear ratio for the gear should be based on the presence of con- trolled elements (parameters) and a mechanism for their control. In respect of the mentioned gear one of the controlled elements that is a compound central toothed gear has such controlled parameter as a nominal pitch diameter. In this case it can rotate or remain motionless. Other controlled element which is a planetary carrier has its own radius as a controlled parameter and makes a rotary motion with a great speed of a leading element. The purpose of the control mechanism is to ensure radial displacement of central toothed gear and planet gear sectors in the working gear. The paper describes the mechanism modifications and considers two variants for transfer of control action from its source to an object to be controlled. The transfer is ensured by mechanical gears (two variants) and hydraulics.

The paper contains a theoretical underpinning on creation of ultrasonic vibration concentrators based on annular elastic elements with non-circular (ellipse-like) eccentric shape of internal contour. Shape of internal contour in polar coordinates is described by Fourier series relative to angular coordinate that consists of a constant term and first and second harmonics. An effect of geometric parameters of the concentrator on amplification factor and natural vibration frequencies has been investigated with the help of a finite element method. The paper reveals the possibility to control an amplification factor of annular concentrators while varying eccentricity of internal contour and mean value of cross-section thickness. The amplification factor satisfies a condition K < N, where N is thickness ratio of amplifier input and output sections, and it is decreasing with increase of vibration mode order. The similar condition has been satisfied for conical bar concentrator with the difference that in the case of bar concentrators an amplification is ensured due to variation of diameter and N will represent ratio of diameters. It has been proved that modification of internal contour shape makes it possible to carry out a wide-band tuning of natural frequencies of concentrator vibrations without alteration of its overall dimensions and substantial change of amplification factor, which is important for frequency matching of the concentrator and ultrasonic vibratory system. Advantages of the proposed concentrators include simplicity of design and manufacturing, small overall dimensions, possibility for natural frequency tuning by means of static load variation. The developed concentrators can find their application in ultrasonic devices and instruments for technological and medical purposes.

^{Smooth plowing with the help of reversible plows has replaced an enclosure method of soil treatment. The method may cause a formation of back ridges or open furrows. Due to this fact turnings of a tractor unit with a minimum radius required in order to ensure shuttle movements each time in the furrow of the preceding operating stroke have become a dominant type of turnings. Non-productive shift time is directly dependent on them and it is on the average 10–12 %, and it is up to 40 % in small contour areas with short run. Large non-productive time is connected with the desire to reduce headland width at field edges, and then a turning is made in several stages while using a complicated maneuvering. Therefore, an increase in efficiency of a plowing unit by means of minimization on its turning radius and execution of turning at one stage in the shortest possible time are considered as relevant objectives. In such a case it is necessary to take into account the fact that potential capabilities of universal tractors having established time-proved designs in respect of reduction of turning radius are practically at the end. So it is expedient to solve the matter at the expense of additional removable devices that ensure transformation of tractor wheel formula at the run end in order to reorient its position. Finally high quality plowing ensured by future-oriented reversible plows will be accompanied not only by output increase per shift, but also by decrease in headland width, their compaction and abrasion due to suspension systems and increase in productivity. The developed design having a novelty which proved by an invention patent and representing an additional supporting and maneuvering device significantly minimizes all the above-mentioned disadvantages and does not require any changes in tractor production design. Investigations have been carried on the following topic: “Minimization of turning radius for universal tractors by transformation of wheel formula”. The paper presents a mathematical model, which reflects all the parameters having an effect on a tractor unit with a supporting and maneuvering device and it also considers a longitudinal and transverse stability.}

The paper presents modern approaches to processing of images obtained with the help of industrial equipment. Usage of pixel modification in small neighborhoods, application of uniform image processing while changing brightness level, possibilities for combination of several images, threshold image processing have been described in the paper. While processing a number of images on a metal structure containing micro-cracks and being under strain difference between two such images have been determined in the paper. The metal structure represents a contour specifying the difference in images. An analysis of the contour makes it possible to determine initial direction of crack propagation in the metal. A threshold binarization value has been determined while processing the image having a field of medium intensity which are disappearing in the process of simple binarization and merging with the background due to rather small drop between the edges. In this regard an algorithm of a balanced threshold histogram clipping has been selected and it is based on the following approach: two different histogram fractions are “weighed” and if one of the fractions “outweighs” then last column of the histogram fraction is removed and the procedure is repeated again. When there is rather high threshold value a contour break (disappearance of informative pixels) may occur, and when there is a low threshold value – a noise (non-informative pixels) may appear. The paper shows implementation of an algorithm for location of contact pads on image of semiconductor crystal. Algorithms for morphological processing of production prototype images have been obtained in the paper and these algorithms permit to detect defects on the surface of semiconductors, to carry out filtration, threshold binarization that presupposes application of an algorithm of a balanced threshold histogram clipping. The developed approaches can be used to highlight contours on the surface images of mechanical engineering products and prepare them as production prototype images in accordance with enterprise documentation. Such approach makes it possible to remove noise on radiographs without introduction of additional distortions in the processed image; highlight defects of welded joints on the images. 

Virtual testing of portal machine tool has been carried out with the help of finite elements method (FEM). Static, modal and harmonic analyses have been made for a heavy planer. The paper reveals influence of concrete filler on machine tool dynamic flexibility. A peculiar feature of the simulation is concrete filling of a high-level transverse beam. Such approach oes look a typical one for machine-tool industry. Concrete has been considered as generalized material in two variants. It has been established that concrete application provides approximately 3-fold increase in machine tool rigidity per each coordinate. In this regard it is necessary to arrange closure of rigidity contour by filling all the cavities inside of the portal. Modal FEA makes it possible to determine that concrete increases comparatively weakly (1.3–1.4-fold) frequencies of resonance modes. Frequency of the lowest mode rises only from 30.25 to 42.86 Hz. The following most active whole-machine eigenmodes have been revealed in the paper: “Portal pecking”, “Parallelogram” and “Traverse pecking”. In order to restrain the last mode it is necessary to carry out concrete filling of the traverse, in particular. Frequency-response characteristics and curves of dynamic rigidity for a spindle have been plotted for 0–150 Hz interval while using harmonic FEM. It has been determined that concrete increases dynamic machine tool rigidity by 2.5–3.5-fold. The effect is obtained even in the case when weakly damping concrete (2 %) is used. This is due to distribution of vibrational energy flow along concrete and along cast iron as well. Thus energy density and vibration amplitudes must decrease. The paper shows acceptability for internal reinforcement of high-level machine tool parts (for example, portal traverses) and fillers are applied for this purpose. Traverse weighting is compensated by additional torsional, shear and bending rigidity. The machine tool obtains the possibility for rough intermittent cutting even at resonance frequencies. Complete concrete filling of portal cavities is definitely a positive action for static and dynamic properties of the machine tool.

Linear piezoelectric gauges, eddy current transducers and other control and measuring devices have been widely applied for vibration diagnostics of objects in industry. Methods based on such gauges and used for measuring angular and linear vibrations do not provide the possibility to assess a rotation center or point angle of an object. Parasitic oscillations may occur during rotor rotation and in some cases the oscillations are caused by dis-balance. The known methods for measuring angular and linear vibrations make it possible to detect the phenomenon and they do not provide information for balancing of the given object. For this very reason the paper describes a method for obtaining instantaneous rotation center in the vibrating object. It allows to improve informational content of the measurements owing to obtaining additional data on position of object rotation center. The obtained data can be used for balancing of a control object. Essence of the given method is shown by an example of piezoelectric gauges of linear vibrations. Two three-axial gauges are fixed to the investigated object. Then gauge output signals are recalculated in angular vibrations of the object (for this purpose it is necessary to know a distance between gauges). Further projection positions of the object rotation center are determined on three orthogonal planes. Instantaneous rotation center is calculated according to the position of one of the gauges. The proposed method permits to obtain data on linear and angular vibrations and rotation center position of the vibrating object using one system of linear gauge. Possibilities of object diagnostics are expanded due to increase in number of determined parameters pertaining to object moving. The method also makes it possible to reduce material and time expenses for measurement of an angular vibration component. 

The paper investigates a stress-strain state in a polycrystalline grain due to presence in its body of a single micro- twin in case of various grain boundary forms. A methodology for calculation of displacement and stress fields for the specified stress-strain state of a polygon-shaped grain has been developed in the paper. Nodal points in a polycrystalline grain that have a maximum stresses contributing to initiation of destruction have been revealed in the paper. The aim of this work has been to study the stress-strain state due to a single micro-twin in the polycrystalline grain and form of grain boundaries. The paper describes polycrystalline grains having a regular polygon shape and containing a single wedge twin in their body. Polycrystalline grain boundaries are presented as walls with complete dislocation. The investigated grains are located far from the surface of twinning material. The developed methodology for calculation of displacement and stresses created by wedge twin is based on the principle of superposition. Calculations on stress tensor components have been carried out for iron (Fe). The presented results of calculations for stress fields have indicated to validity of the used dislocation model. Twin and grain boundaries being stress concentrators are clearly visible on the obtained distributions of stress fields. Maximum normal stresses are observed on the twin boundaries; σ_xy maximum shear stresses are located at nodal points of the twin; σ_zy and σ_xz shear stresses are maximum on the grain boundaries. The conducted investigations have resulted in study of the stress-strain state due to a single wedge-shaped micro-twin in the polycrystalline grain and form of the grain boundaries. Zones of stress concentration in the polycrystalline grain have been identified in the presence of residual mechanical wedge twin. A method for evaluation of the given state has been developed in the paper.